The answer to whether this album and its songs will suffer the same fate as many other event-specific releases won’t be apparent for quite some time, but the risk taken by the band, despite being in a place where they can comfortably afford to take such chances, is admirable nevertheless. These additions ensure that the album perfectly encapsulates the events witnessed by the band and its audience in the last two years.Ĭreating an album with lyrics focusing on such specific topics is always a risk there is always the possibility that the songs become dated in a few years’ time when the topics they address fade into the history books. This delay led to a re-shuffle of the album’s focus, including the addition of new tracks “Do What You Can”, inspired by the response to the pandemic, and “American Reckoning” which comments on the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent political fallout. What would become “2020” was originally written and recorded in 2019 for an early 2020 release, until the original release of this album and it’s supporting tour were cancelled with the United States becoming the nation most heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having explored and reflected on his own life and the goings-on in the band with 2016’s “This House Is Not For Sale”, Jon decides to tackle the world around him on this release, commenting on everything from the rise of gun violence in America (“Lower The Flag”) to Veterans suffering from PTSD after active service (“Unbroken)”. That doesn’t mean Jon Bon Jovi has nothing left to say, which leads us to “2020”.
The band clearly has nothing left to prove, and certainly nothing left to lose. So where can the band now go, as front-man Jon stares down his 60th birthday and almost 40 years of writing and performing? Bon Jovi certainly recognised this, evolving creatively several times with the grunge-influenced “Keep The Faith”, the dark undertones of “These Days”, and underdoing a complete rebirth with “Crush”, the country-tinged “Lost Highway” and the reflective lyrics of “This House Is Not For Sale”.
While it is indisputable that Bon Jovi hit their peak with 1986’s “Slippery When Wet” and 88’s “New Jersey”, it is important to realise that time has come and gone. However, many listeners also yearn for the days of hairspray, loud guitars and high-pitched vocals. They still draw in millions of fans to each tour and release albums that top the charts on release, something many of their 1980s counterparts have not been able to do since their heyday. Review Summary: Bon Jovi take a creative risk to encapsulate the year with an album that is their most ambitious and diverse in years, despite a few hits and misses along the way.īon Jovi have divided listeners for the better part of 15 years with their move to a more contemporary, radio-friendly sound.
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